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Outstanding Awards for Waltham Forest Parks

3 August 2012 in Waltham Forest News

A Leyton park which recently opened new and refurbished tennis courts (24 July) is the latest Waltham Forest park to be awarded the highly coveted ‘Green Flag’ status. A nature site run by volunteers also received the borough’s first Community Green Flag award.

The latest addition to join Ridgeway Park, Coronation Gardens and Langthorne Park, which retained their green flag status, is Abbotts Park in Leyton. Waltham Forest now boasts four parks that are rated amongst the best run green spaces in the country.

Councillor Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, who thanked the hard work of staff and the borough’s friends of parks groups, said:

"We are very proud that these much loved and outstanding parks have received official Green Flag recognition as clean and green places for residents and visitors to Waltham Forest to relax, have fun and socialise."

“These coveted awards reflect our continuing commitment to maintain and improve the standards for our green spaces across the borough. They provide a haven for relaxation, community involvement and activities for residents of all ages."

“With the Olympics, current good weather and school holidays, now is the perfect time to make best use of these Green Flag parks and others across Waltham Forest.”

Abbotts Park in Leyton is highly used and reopened its tennis courts and pavilion following a major refurbishment. It is one of several Waltham Forest parks receiving support from a £5 million leisure budget earmarked for parks and green spaces over the next few years.  The park also features open and fenced areas for recreational sports, an outdoor gym, a children’s play area, a petanque terrain, a pavilion with toilets and hosts an annual fun fair in July.

In addition Hawkwood Nature Reserve, a unique pond and tranquil oasis on the edge of Epping Forest, in the north of the borough received a prestigious Community Green Flag accreditation. This is the first site in Waltham Forest to receive this award which recognises high quality green spaces in England and Wales managed by voluntary and community groups.
 
To retain public access, following the closure of a former educational facility that managed the small site, local residents formed a Friends Group in 2007.
 
The Friends Group now provide daily maintenance of the site, opening and closing it to the public, keeping pathways clear from hanging branches and mowing the pathways. They work closely in partnership with Waltham Forest Council to develop and improve the site.  Without the group’s dedication and commitment the site would have remained inaccessible to the public. 

Mike Freeman, Friends of Hawkwood Nature Reserve Group, added:
“We are extremely pleased with this Community Green Flag award and look forward to welcoming visitors. The reserve is run by volunteers with support from Waltham Forest Council. Our efforts are concentrated on providing a safe environment where wildlife can be spotted and people can relax in peace and quiet. In order to conserve the natural and rustic atmosphere that exists, we undertake the minimum of maintenance.”